p. 18 | Thirteen Begin Keeping the Sabbath

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 24, 1903

Thirteen Begin Keeping the Sabbath

By R. J. Bellows; F. J. Harris

ENSIGN.—As the result of meetings, which we have been holding at this place for the past few weeks, thirteen adults have begun to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. Our first meeting was held in the schoolhouse on the evening of July 29. The whole community became interested. Quite a number came from two to three miles every night over roads that seemed to us almost impassable in the daytime. These are all rejoicing in the truth, and are thankful that we came to give them the light.

On account of the condition of the roads, some of the women could not attend the evening meetings, so on Sunday we went into the woods where they lived, and spent nearly the whole of the day with them, giving them studies on the subjects treated upon during the week at the schoolhouse in the village. August 16, while in one of these meetings, we certainly received droppings of the latter rain. We were presenting the sanctuary, the twenty-three hundred days, and the investigative judgment to a houseful of neighbors who had come in; the Holy Spirit rested upon us, and there was a general breaking-up,—old and young wept as though their hearts would break,—and when we gave opportunity for an expression on the part of those who desired our prayers, the first to raise his hand was a man eighty-five years old, who had never been converted. In the prayer service that followed, we were most wonderfully blessed. About six began at this meeting to serve the Lord and to keep his Sabbath.

One lady, who is about fifty years old, and who has been a school-teacher most of her life, was here for a few days, visiting her mother. She became so much interested that she stayed two or three weeks longer than she had intended to when she came. She has now gone home, but she began keeping the Sabbath before she left. Another lady, who had just finished a State normal course in Lower Michigan, was also visiting here, but could attend only one meeting, and a Bible reading, which she especially requested us to give her before she went away. She was much interested, in fact, we have never seen any one so enthusiastic over the truth as she was, and her mother was equally interested. She took a copy of “Daniel and the Revelation” away with her; and as she was leaving for the State of Washington, she asked her father to tell us that though she was not one of us then, she did not know how soon she might be.

On Sabbath, August 22, we organized a Sabbath-school of twenty-two members, and we have good reasons for believing that it will be larger, as some of our new Sabbath-keepers were not present. Surely the Lord deserves praise for the manner in which he has shown his willingness to work with poor, unworthy human instruments in carrying this precious truth to those who sit in darkness. The way the Lord has blessed us ever since we began our work here has continually impressed the thought upon our minds that we have reached the time for the message to go with a loud cry.

This is a destitute field, much in need not only of workers, but of Adventists to come here and hold up the truth before those who have never heard it. We are only a handful of workers, trying our best to get the truth before the people, but we are altogether too few in number to do it. Right here land that is easily cleared can be bought for from $2.50 to $5 an acre, and more productive soil can not be found anywhere in Michigan. We have remarked many times that if some of our people would come here from places where they are not needed, it would be a blessing to them, and they would be helping to give the truth to souls who are hungry, and have no meat. We pray that God will put it into some one's heart to improve this unusual opportunity. R. J. BELLOWS, F. J. HARRIS.